Judge said Angela Whitney 'misused confidential information, made disparaging comments'
Calgary Justice Glenda Campbell has issued a gag order against former Calgary Police Service's (CPS) human resource department head, after finding her actions on social media violated the provisions of her resignation agreement.
“I have found that [Angela] Whitney misused confidential CPS information and made disparaging comments about CPS and its personnel,” said Campbell in her decision, according to the CBC.
The judge ordered Whitney to immediately remove the breaching posts from all social media platforms. She also ordered the accused to refrain from further public statements, specifically if they violate the 2021 severance agreement she signed.
Earlier, the CPS sued Whitney, who served as its HR head from 2019 until her resignation in 2021, after she made a series of social media posts allegedly disparaging the service and disclosed information about specific HR investigations.
It’s alleged that Whitney, while on medical leave, emailed her co-employees, including a deputy chief of the service, telling them that she wanted to resign, said the CBC. That was in March 2021.
Through the same email, Whitney asked for a four-month severance pay, which the CPS agreed to pay, amounting to $60,000. As part of her resignation, the CPS asked Whitney to sign a confidentiality agreement (CA), which according to the former HR head, was “forced upon her”.
The CA directed Whitney not to disclose any information about CPS HR matters and prohibited her from publicly disparaging the service.
Meanwhile, Campbell, upon reviewing Whitney’s statement regarding the CA, found out that the CPS had given her the chance to review, request changes, and seek legal advice before signing it, said the CBC.
Also, the CPS tried to settle the issue outside court by sending Whitney two letters asking her to remove her “breaching” social media posts.
Whitney’s lawyer, Nicholas Urie, maintained that his client is a “whistleblower,” and what she did (disclosing HR information) is for public interest, said the CBC.
In the meantime, since Campbell found a strong case against Whitney, another hearing was set for the standing charges against her.
